Arc loses another as New Approach will pass

New Approach, winner of the Epsom Derby and Irish Champion Stake, will bypass both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup Classic in favor of the Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 19, his trainer, Jim Bolger, said Monday.

The decision is another blow to the Arc, which lost Prospect Wells and Saddex last week. Last month it lost Montmartre, whose Grand Prix de Paris victory on July 14 saw him installed as the midsummer Arc favorite. He injured a leg in that race, however, and will not run again this year.

Bolger cited the Champion Stakes distance of 1 1/4 miles as the main reason for routing New Approach to Newmarket.

Meanwhile, trainer Aidan O'Brien now has three options for Duke of Marmalade's next race, as officials at Ireland's only Polytrack course, Dundalk, have carded a 1 5/16-mile allowance race worth $43,000 called the Breeders' Cup Trial Stakes for Friday night in an effort to attract the five-time Group 1 winner as he preps for a possible tilt at the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Duke of Marmalade has also been nominated to the $72,000 Thoroughbred Open Classic on the Polytrack at Great Leighs in England on Saturday night, but O'Brien said that the Duke could still run in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Oct. 5 if the long-term weather forecast for Paris suggests that the Arc will be run on good ground.